SOLUTION: Find the length x. Express the answer in simplified radical form. Side 1=x Side 2=8 Side 3=12

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Question 118078: Find the length x. Express the answer in simplified radical form.
Side 1=x
Side 2=8
Side 3=12
Answer by solver91311(24713) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I suspect there was a diagram that accompanied this problem, because you left out some rather important details. First, is this a right triangle? And, if it is a right triangle, is side 1 one of the legs or is it the hypotenuse?
Assumption 1: It is a right triangle and x is one of the legs:

x=sqrt%2812%5E2-8%5E2%29=sqrt%28144-64%29=sqrt%2880%29=4%2Asqrt%285%29

Assumption 2: It is a right triangle and x is the hypotenuse:

x=sqrt%2812%5E2%2B8%5E2%29=sqrt%28144%2B64%29=sqrt%28208%29=4%2Asqrt%2813%29

Assumption 3: It is NOT a right triangle:

All you can say is that 4%3Cx%3C20, excluding the two values calculated above.

Hope this helps. And do be a little more specific next time you ask for help.